Stereopticon panorama machine



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C.A.CHASE. STBREOPTIUON PANORA-MA MACHINE.

atented Aug. 27, 1895.

{No HodeL), 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- 0-. A. CHASE.

STBREOPTIGON PANORAMA MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 27,1895.

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UNIT D STATES CHARLES A. CHASE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGYOR TO THE CHASE ELECTRIC Ct'(l"I.0lii-\1L-\ COMPANY, OF ILLINOIS.

STEREOPTICON PANORAMA MACHIN E SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,423, tinted August 27, 1895'.

Application filed September 24, 1894. Serial No. 523.976- (Ne model.)

To all whom, it may con-corn.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. CHASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful lm' provernent; in Stereopticon Panorama iiinchines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stereopticon panorams devices or machines, and has forits object to provide certain convenient and simple means for properly joining the horizon pictures reproduced by such machine, so as to give the etfect of acontinuous unbroken view.

The further object of my invention is to provide means for producing a continuous.

upper and lower border or vanishing line in the case of such panoramic reproductions. In an application of even date herewith, andserially numbered 523,975, I have shown an arrengement for regulating the position of the different stereopticons. In my present application I hsvc shown a device which, when applied to each stereopticon and correctly manipulated, causes the separate parts of the picture projected by each stereopticon to be come blended into one continuous reproduc- -tion.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of my apparatus with the lines of projection of light indicated. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a single stereopticon with light-projection lines. Fig 3 is an enlarged front view of the blending device. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on line A A of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end viewrof the blending device. Fig. 5 ise cross-section on line 7 7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view showing the bounding-lines of a series of sections of sQhorizon picture.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

In reproducing horizon views with panorsmic effects great difficulty is encountered with regard to the matter of correctly and accurately joining the series of pictures which together make up the continuous horizon view; The slightest deviation with regard to the line of junction of the two adjacent pictures is enormously magnified by the time the light lms reached the screen, so that it is practicn ll y impossible or at least extremely djlficult to obtain a series of sections of horizon views of such accuracy that they can be made to join perfectly by simply adjusting the ordina ry stereopticon. To obviate these difiiculties, I first undertook to overlap the pictures. Thus wherelcmploycd eleven stereopticons to reproduce the entire horizon I placed in each stereoptieou somewhat more than one-eleventh oi the horizousay,ouctenth-and this made an overlapping of the pictures at iheeuds or edges. This, however, produced a broad light streak at the point where the two pictures overlap or blend. This excessot light rendered the expedient impracticable, whereupon I set outto secure the invention which is the subject-mutter of this application. in like manner. whentho series of scenes are projected on the screen it will be found that one portion will rise slightly higher than the next, adjacent. portionor descend slightly lower, so as, to pro-;

duce araggcd and uneven upper and lower boundary-line of the horizon picture. All this is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 in full lines, and these two figures contain a like diagram in dotted lines of the condition of things when my invention has been properly applied. 4

Referring now to Figs. 3, 1, and 5, aud t), A A indicate the frame-pieces of a slideholder reconstructed so as to contain my invention. These frame portions are preferably wide and constitute a body portion u pon which the other parts are mounted. B B are side portions serving as guides and standards, terminating each in the guideway C for the blending-shutter D, which slides alongiand in suchgnides. HE and upon each is mounted the screw-rod F, adapted to rotate on such standard, but not to move therealong. This rod is received into escrow-threaded block G on the under side of the plate D, so that when the rods F F are turned the plate I) is moved in its guides. Two such shutters are provided, one at; each end of the slide-frame. The shafts lI ll are journaled on the sides of the standard-plates B B, and are provided at one end with the thumbpieces J Jend at the other end with 9o At the ends are the standards thepinions K K, adapted to-engage the short racks L L on the shutter sars M M. 'ihese racks L are placed one at each end of the shutter M. Said shutters may therefore he moved back and forth by turning the shafts 11 H. O is the slot through the framework in which the slide is adapted lobe placed. By this means the aperture through which the light from the slide passes capable of control, the picture at top and bottom being controlled by means of the slides orshuttcrs ill, which can. be moved in either direction to bring the tops and bottoms otthe successive "sdti'ohs ot" the horizon picture in relation so as to make of them continuous lines. The slides D D are situated a considerable distance from the plate or slide proper, as is indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

I do not wish to be limited to the precise form and construction ct these several parts, as by a consideration of what I will now set forth concerning my invention. it is evident that these details of construction could be greatly altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: The stercopticons having been arranged as indicated in Fig. 1, each is pro vided with the blending device, as I have called it, and which is illustrated in Figs. 3;

4, 5, and 5. The pictures are now thrown upon the screen in as close relation as possible. By operating the slides M M We can now out.- off the rays of light at top and botentire horizon picture a continuous upper and lower edge. At the same time one should so adjust, thestereopticons that the pictures will be as nearly as possible blended. As above suggested, the pictures will slightly overlap; but the point or strip of overlap is abnormally illuminated, since it receives the rays of light from each oftwo adjacent stereopticons. The parts of the pictures on the two overlapping portions are preferably made to register. I now operate my shutters D D, which, as above remarked,are considerably separated from the plate or positive until the light on such strip or overlap portion of the pictures is reduced so as to give uniform light about the Whole circle. This is done by moving these shutters forward into the line of sight, so to speelr,ax1d as this is done it will be found that the light in such band of overlap greatly diminishes, and when. the right point has been reached the shutters are no longer moved. There is th rise perfect blending of all the pictures. They are slightly overlapped so as to make c'dmplete joining, and the abnormal light is then reduced by the blender so as to give to all parts of the picture the same degree of illumination. It is of course evident that as the shutters-D D are moved into the line of sight the overlap is reduced; but there seems tom of the several pictures, so as tog-li e the herein shown for the production of a portion of the horizon-say, such part as would be covered by two or more instruments.

[as shown in the drawings, the olcndingd'evice is associated with the slide-holder, which is connected with the stercopticon in the ordinary manner, as shown in Fig. 2. It is-evident that It may utilize the blending device in making joinings between the upper end.

lower edges of the pictures, as well as between the sides, in cases Where it is desirable to project one picture above another.

I clnin1-- a .l. The combination of a series ot' stcreopticons arranged so as to project a horizon picture, with section views, slides or plates each containing slightly more than its proportionate amount of the horizon view, and means for reducing the light on the overlap portions so that the separate portions of the reproduced view will be blended into one substantially homogeneous view.

2. The combination of a. series of stereopticons adapted to reproduce a horizon view, with n series of views, slides or plates, one for each stereopticon, each plate containing thcdevicc might be employed substanticllyv slightly more than its proportionate amount of the total picture, and movable shutters in advance of the views, slides or plates and adapted to cutoff a portion of the light at the sides so as to blend and reduce the light of the overlapping portions of the reproduced picture. v

3. The combination of a. series of stereopticons adapted to produce a, horizon picture, with a seriesof views, slides or plates and movable shutters located at the top and bottom of the pictures to be reproduced and adapted to be moved with relation to such picture or views, slides or plates so as to cut oft the light and produce a uniform upper and lower surface of the complete picture. t

4:. The combination with two or more stereopticons arranged so as to project adjacent portions of the some view upon at receiving well, of a blending device associated with each stereoptioon and adapted when properly manipuieted to substantially obliterate the line of demarkation between the separate portions of the reproduced view.

CHARLES A. Cl-iASE.

Witnesses:

WALT-nu J. G'un'rnonr, FRANCIS M. IRELAND. 

